Before I get into the letter, I thought that I would let you all know that we had a great call with Dusty on Christmas. It was wonderful to hear his voice. He is happy and healthy, which is a great blessing. The Lord has blessed him greatly over the past six months and has taken great care of him. Even through the trials of a difficult companion and the loss of the twins here at home, he has managed to serve the Lord with honor and love the people of Mexico. As a parent it’s hard to be sad that he isn’t home for the holidays when we can hear the joy in his voice at the life he has chosen.
Dusty told us a little more about the area in which he has been serving. So he is in the Mexico City East mission. Mexico City is like the third largest city in the world. His area that he has been working in is called Nezahualcoyotl, or Neza for short. It is considered a City within a City, and is the fifth largest City in a City in the world. Within the boundaries of his mission live about 13 million people – 7 million of which live in Neza. That’s around the size of Los Angeles!
Anyways, thank you for your loving support of Dusty these past six months. We look forward to more of his ‘adventures’ in 2009.
Love,
John and Judy Howard
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Hey
I only got a short time to write so I’ll do it quick and write more next week. We have a baptism in about 30 minutes and I’m going to be the one baptizing so I have to get all the stuff ready.
Today I bought the pants that I was telling you guys that I needed. It was actually a lot more expensive than I thought. I ended up dropping about 60 bucks. But I have the pants that I need and that’s not a bad price.
Yes, I am being transferred tomorrow. Also tell CJ that he`s not the only one that has a new cell phone, I’ll be carrying one also because I`m going to be a district leader. My companion is also being transferred, so they are taking both of us out of this area. I`m real excited to see where I’ll be put. I’ll let you guys know more in the next letter.
Mom, I’m fine at night and don’t really need a blanket but if you want you can send one.
Yes, all the missionaries that I’ve talked to did get to talk to their families on Christmas. Which is good. For Christmas dinner we had this thing called pazaoli. It’s like a soup with all these noodles and chicken and lettuce and cream and other stuff. It was really good.
I was happy to hear from you all and also Jason. I’m glad that all has been well and I hope that all stays that way.
Mom, I understand your comments on the struggles with my companions preparing me for marriage, but I’m pretty sure that my wife isn’t going to insult me and disrespect me every day. But I see what you’re saying and I have learned a lot from this Elder.
Things are going well, especially now. It’s a bit tough to say bye to everyone here but it’s going be like that in every area.
I was happy to read about how Christmas was for CJ as an only child with you people. It was a bit weird that he was so shy on the phone but you’re probably right, it`ll go back to normal when we see each other. I hope. Maybe it`ll be different in May for the Mother’s day call .....who knows. We`ll see.
Thanks for everything and I love you guys. I`ll talk to you in a week.
Love
Elder Howard
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Monday, December 15, 2008
Dusty's Email - 12/15/08
Family
This past week we had interviews with President Bulloch. I didn’t get my package, but my interview went very well. It was awesome to talk to him. We talk mostly about my companion, and all went well. We are going to talk tomorrow again because I need some advice on a couple things with my companion and he said that I can talk to him tomorrow. We aren’t having troubles, but the last while I haven’t felt the Spirit when he teaches, and we all know that is a huge part of the work.
Another problem is he starts talking and trying to convince a person why they should be baptized. It’s with care, and its right to try to help the people understand, but he tries to do it alone and doesn’t really allow me to say anything, and he always cuts me off when I try to say something. The times that he`s tried to help these people understand it’s been without the Spirit. It’s vital to have the Spirit. I guess to me it’s unfair to the people that could have a chance to really see and feel the Spirit, but they can’t because he doesn’t carry it. I told President and we are going to talk tomorrow. Yeah we bonk heads, but the problem is that he`s just real immature and takes jokes way to far...which Pres told me he has a problem with. But other than personality differences he`s fine.
We are going to have zone conference soon. We are going to first go to the temple and go through a session and then have a little Christmas thing.
Yes, dad, some of the problems with my companion was the language that he was using towards me and basically that he didn’t respect me. But we worked that out.
I`m glad to hear that you weren’t affected by the layoffs and that all is well right now.
President Bulloch switched P-day next week from Monday the 22nd to Wednesday the 24th, so you won’t get a letter from me until Wednesday, so don’t flip out on Monday when you don’t have a letter from me.
I got a letter the other day from Grandma and Grandpa and they said that they have been sending me emails. But I haven’t gotten one from them so please check their address that they have.
Tell the ward that I said Merry Christmas!!!
We are working hard here and seeing some results. We have 2 possible baptisms this week and another possible 2 for the 28 of December.
Yes mom, transfers are coming up on the 30th of December and I’m sure that I’ll be leaving. We`ll see, if I stay it will be rare because President Bulloch doesn’t usually keep an Elder in a area for more than 41/2 months. At the end of the next cycle I’ll be pressing 6 months in my first area. However from a comment that President made it’s just a guess.
I gotta head out.
Love you all and look forward to hearing from you next week
Elder Howard
This past week we had interviews with President Bulloch. I didn’t get my package, but my interview went very well. It was awesome to talk to him. We talk mostly about my companion, and all went well. We are going to talk tomorrow again because I need some advice on a couple things with my companion and he said that I can talk to him tomorrow. We aren’t having troubles, but the last while I haven’t felt the Spirit when he teaches, and we all know that is a huge part of the work.
Another problem is he starts talking and trying to convince a person why they should be baptized. It’s with care, and its right to try to help the people understand, but he tries to do it alone and doesn’t really allow me to say anything, and he always cuts me off when I try to say something. The times that he`s tried to help these people understand it’s been without the Spirit. It’s vital to have the Spirit. I guess to me it’s unfair to the people that could have a chance to really see and feel the Spirit, but they can’t because he doesn’t carry it. I told President and we are going to talk tomorrow. Yeah we bonk heads, but the problem is that he`s just real immature and takes jokes way to far...which Pres told me he has a problem with. But other than personality differences he`s fine.
We are going to have zone conference soon. We are going to first go to the temple and go through a session and then have a little Christmas thing.
Yes, dad, some of the problems with my companion was the language that he was using towards me and basically that he didn’t respect me. But we worked that out.
I`m glad to hear that you weren’t affected by the layoffs and that all is well right now.
President Bulloch switched P-day next week from Monday the 22nd to Wednesday the 24th, so you won’t get a letter from me until Wednesday, so don’t flip out on Monday when you don’t have a letter from me.
I got a letter the other day from Grandma and Grandpa and they said that they have been sending me emails. But I haven’t gotten one from them so please check their address that they have.
Tell the ward that I said Merry Christmas!!!
We are working hard here and seeing some results. We have 2 possible baptisms this week and another possible 2 for the 28 of December.
Yes mom, transfers are coming up on the 30th of December and I’m sure that I’ll be leaving. We`ll see, if I stay it will be rare because President Bulloch doesn’t usually keep an Elder in a area for more than 41/2 months. At the end of the next cycle I’ll be pressing 6 months in my first area. However from a comment that President made it’s just a guess.
I gotta head out.
Love you all and look forward to hearing from you next week
Elder Howard
Monday, December 8, 2008
Dusty's Email -- 12/08/08
Hey,
Not a whole lot to say. We had a baptism this last week and we also confirmed her on Sunday. We have interviews this week with President so I’m looking forward to seeing him and possible getting my package. My companion and I are getting along well again. He’s actually changed a lot the way that he talks around me. We talked one day after our planning session and I told him everything and that things have got to change, and he’s really tried and I’ve recognized it. I really appreciate it, and I’ve told him that.
Things are well, I’m healthy and just pressing on every day. We found a family of 6 this past week, and we were excited because we put them as part of our goal for December to baptize and then on Friday they told us they needed some time because they have some problems within their family. We understand, but now we will pray for some kind of a miracle to complete the goal for the month.
Spanish is coming great and I’m excited to talk to people and to learn the new words. The people here actually make up words and people know exactly what they are saying. It’s confusing at times. Especially if a Mexican wants to say something that he doesn’t want an American to know he’ll do it. So my companion has been teaching me how to do it and how to understand it. It’s pretty sweet.
I saw the Christmas Devotional last night and it was good to hear from the Prophet and his counselors.
This last week I finished the Book of Mormon for the first time in Spanish. I’m also about 50 pages from finishing “Jesus the Christ”. Man, that book is powerful. There are a lot of great insights that I really enjoy reading.
Family and everyone.....I have a challenge for you.....so I finished the Book of Mormon as I said this last Wednesday. I just started it again today. Here is the challenge......read three chapters a day. You’ll finish it Feb 25 or so. This is the goal. Family start today and read together every night. I know that its difficult with the schedules but do it. Everyone else, if you’re in the midst of reading it great, then start it with your family. Every night or day 3 chapters.
I promise that you will see a greater peace in your life, there will be greater peace in the home and between you and your children and spouses. The problems that come into life you will know how to handle and help each other. I promise a greater strength of your family. I know this to be true, only because I have seen the change for me. When my comp and I were having trouble I was wondering how to deal with it...the best way possible. It came to me everyday what I needed to do that day. Finally it came one morning to talk to him about it after we planned that day...and I did. He laughed it off when I told him, but since then I have seen the change in him. I have seen the change in me. I have grown more patient, and have learned to trust in the Lord more. I know the blessings are real and that we can’t miss them. so I hope that you all take this challenge and are able to fulfill it also.
Hope all is well. I love you all and pray for you.
Elder Howard
Not a whole lot to say. We had a baptism this last week and we also confirmed her on Sunday. We have interviews this week with President so I’m looking forward to seeing him and possible getting my package. My companion and I are getting along well again. He’s actually changed a lot the way that he talks around me. We talked one day after our planning session and I told him everything and that things have got to change, and he’s really tried and I’ve recognized it. I really appreciate it, and I’ve told him that.
Things are well, I’m healthy and just pressing on every day. We found a family of 6 this past week, and we were excited because we put them as part of our goal for December to baptize and then on Friday they told us they needed some time because they have some problems within their family. We understand, but now we will pray for some kind of a miracle to complete the goal for the month.
Spanish is coming great and I’m excited to talk to people and to learn the new words. The people here actually make up words and people know exactly what they are saying. It’s confusing at times. Especially if a Mexican wants to say something that he doesn’t want an American to know he’ll do it. So my companion has been teaching me how to do it and how to understand it. It’s pretty sweet.
I saw the Christmas Devotional last night and it was good to hear from the Prophet and his counselors.
This last week I finished the Book of Mormon for the first time in Spanish. I’m also about 50 pages from finishing “Jesus the Christ”. Man, that book is powerful. There are a lot of great insights that I really enjoy reading.
Family and everyone.....I have a challenge for you.....so I finished the Book of Mormon as I said this last Wednesday. I just started it again today. Here is the challenge......read three chapters a day. You’ll finish it Feb 25 or so. This is the goal. Family start today and read together every night. I know that its difficult with the schedules but do it. Everyone else, if you’re in the midst of reading it great, then start it with your family. Every night or day 3 chapters.
I promise that you will see a greater peace in your life, there will be greater peace in the home and between you and your children and spouses. The problems that come into life you will know how to handle and help each other. I promise a greater strength of your family. I know this to be true, only because I have seen the change for me. When my comp and I were having trouble I was wondering how to deal with it...the best way possible. It came to me everyday what I needed to do that day. Finally it came one morning to talk to him about it after we planned that day...and I did. He laughed it off when I told him, but since then I have seen the change in him. I have seen the change in me. I have grown more patient, and have learned to trust in the Lord more. I know the blessings are real and that we can’t miss them. so I hope that you all take this challenge and are able to fulfill it also.
Hope all is well. I love you all and pray for you.
Elder Howard
Monday, December 1, 2008
Dusty's Email -- 12/1/08
Familia
This past week went well. We worked real hard and are still seeing success. We've hit a couple of trials with a few of our investigators. They want to be baptized but their families are really Catholic and take it as an insult that they are even listening to us. There was another lady that her husband always listened to our messages and seemed like he really supported his wife, but when we talked about baptism, and her baptism, he butted in before her and gave an excuse about how his whole family is Catholic and all the problems that might occur. We didn’t even ask him because we knew he wasn’t interested. Anyways, she got scared and said that she didn’t want to get baptized. We are working with her and the others and trying to teach them away from their families, like at church. So we'll see. We've made goals to baptize them this week, but we'll see if they can put enough trust in the Lord or not.
Everything is well here in Neza. My companion and I are still having struggles and we talked about it during our planning session because there is a part where you talk about your relationship and all. I brought up everything and he kind of just brushed it aside with laughter and a few jokes. But the last couple days since have been better. So I’m hoping his laughter and jokes were his way of trying to hide the guilt or something. We're still working together and all is well.
Mom, thanks for including me in your festivities this last weekend. I’m excited to get the package. Again thanks for the last one. The socks I needed and the toothbrush too. All the snacks are almost gone. I’m still working on the Jujyfruits. I was going to try and save the Reisens till Christmas but that desire lasted about 2 days. haha.
Well I’m glad that all is well despite the protests and the things that the gay rights supporters did. Its kind of getting that way here. The guy that I’ve told you about that is stuck here, that is from LA, is totally against the gay rights movement, and there are some here and he's always arguing with them and harassing them. It’s not the way to handle it. but ya........!
So Thanksgiving passed here and it was just a normal day for all. yeah. That stunk. haha. But that’s funny that you met Berlyn... she was in the physics class with Mike and I. So we know her pretty well.
I taught Gospel Principles for the first time yesterday. Like the whole hour in Spanish. It was about repentance. Usually I’d make comments or something, but yesterday I taught the whole class and we had a discussion. It was so awesome. I had people come up after and compliment me and said that they enjoyed the class and are looking forward to next week. So the pressure is on. haha. No really, the Lord has blessed me.
Also yesterday, during church the meeting began and we went to sing the first song and I noticed that the pianist wasn’t there. so...yeah...I went up and played the rest of the song and actually the whole meeting. People were really impressed because they didn’t know that I played. There is a lady that has the assignment to play. They also liked it a lot because the lady doesn’t play the songs with any emotion, and I did. Especially the last one, “Praise to the Man”. I love to belt that one out, and it should be, because it’s a song of praise. So now I’m going to play for the Christmas program.
One more thing....this last week we talked to the lady that is in charge of the food for the missionaries and she told us some names of people that don’t really want to, or can’t, feed the missionaries. There was one family, converts of a year or so, and they haven’t fed us since about September. It is because there was a problem with them and my first companion Elder Mora. I remember the problem and everything.
We've been talking to them and trying to help them feel okay to invite us over again. We found out yesterday that we're going to eat with them. During the meeting the husband kept joking with my comp and me. . .and the Lord has blessed us. I hope their thoughts of the missionaries are restored to being good ones.
Well I’m sad to hear about all the lights and all that going up because I do miss it. I see it here, and at Wal-Mart today I heard Christmas music, and ugh....wanted to cry...but we press on.
Love
Elder Howard
This past week went well. We worked real hard and are still seeing success. We've hit a couple of trials with a few of our investigators. They want to be baptized but their families are really Catholic and take it as an insult that they are even listening to us. There was another lady that her husband always listened to our messages and seemed like he really supported his wife, but when we talked about baptism, and her baptism, he butted in before her and gave an excuse about how his whole family is Catholic and all the problems that might occur. We didn’t even ask him because we knew he wasn’t interested. Anyways, she got scared and said that she didn’t want to get baptized. We are working with her and the others and trying to teach them away from their families, like at church. So we'll see. We've made goals to baptize them this week, but we'll see if they can put enough trust in the Lord or not.
Everything is well here in Neza. My companion and I are still having struggles and we talked about it during our planning session because there is a part where you talk about your relationship and all. I brought up everything and he kind of just brushed it aside with laughter and a few jokes. But the last couple days since have been better. So I’m hoping his laughter and jokes were his way of trying to hide the guilt or something. We're still working together and all is well.
Mom, thanks for including me in your festivities this last weekend. I’m excited to get the package. Again thanks for the last one. The socks I needed and the toothbrush too. All the snacks are almost gone. I’m still working on the Jujyfruits. I was going to try and save the Reisens till Christmas but that desire lasted about 2 days. haha.
Well I’m glad that all is well despite the protests and the things that the gay rights supporters did. Its kind of getting that way here. The guy that I’ve told you about that is stuck here, that is from LA, is totally against the gay rights movement, and there are some here and he's always arguing with them and harassing them. It’s not the way to handle it. but ya........!
So Thanksgiving passed here and it was just a normal day for all. yeah. That stunk. haha. But that’s funny that you met Berlyn... she was in the physics class with Mike and I. So we know her pretty well.
I taught Gospel Principles for the first time yesterday. Like the whole hour in Spanish. It was about repentance. Usually I’d make comments or something, but yesterday I taught the whole class and we had a discussion. It was so awesome. I had people come up after and compliment me and said that they enjoyed the class and are looking forward to next week. So the pressure is on. haha. No really, the Lord has blessed me.
Also yesterday, during church the meeting began and we went to sing the first song and I noticed that the pianist wasn’t there. so...yeah...I went up and played the rest of the song and actually the whole meeting. People were really impressed because they didn’t know that I played. There is a lady that has the assignment to play. They also liked it a lot because the lady doesn’t play the songs with any emotion, and I did. Especially the last one, “Praise to the Man”. I love to belt that one out, and it should be, because it’s a song of praise. So now I’m going to play for the Christmas program.
One more thing....this last week we talked to the lady that is in charge of the food for the missionaries and she told us some names of people that don’t really want to, or can’t, feed the missionaries. There was one family, converts of a year or so, and they haven’t fed us since about September. It is because there was a problem with them and my first companion Elder Mora. I remember the problem and everything.
We've been talking to them and trying to help them feel okay to invite us over again. We found out yesterday that we're going to eat with them. During the meeting the husband kept joking with my comp and me. . .and the Lord has blessed us. I hope their thoughts of the missionaries are restored to being good ones.
Well I’m sad to hear about all the lights and all that going up because I do miss it. I see it here, and at Wal-Mart today I heard Christmas music, and ugh....wanted to cry...but we press on.
Love
Elder Howard
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